Bunch of little snails in 2gallon tank?

neonstingray · 11-12-2012, 10:50 PM

Hey guys,
I'm sorry if this is a noob question, and I did try a quick search but it's tough when I'm not sure what I'm dealing with....

So I'm not a planted tank guy. I'm a reef guy. Normally we buy snails for reef tanks. Snails are good. My gf wanted a betta, and I setup a little 2 gallon rimless tank for him with a deep blue nano-filter and fluval CF light. Our local fish store (legit reef and planted tank store) was moving their location, and when breaking down their planted display tank they gave us some bags of substrate dirt and some ground cover plants and some taller plants. We also bought 2 snails so the betta wouldn't be the only living thing in the tank. After a couple months the two larger snails died, but I started seeing little snails popping up all over. Their shell shape is different - more of a long conical shape, vs the old snails being rounder.

They seem to be multiplying and at any time I can easily count over a dozen without looking around. The substrate is about 1.5-2" deep, and the plants are growing well, and the fish is very healthy. Almost every day I put a dab of Flourish Excel in since I don't have a CO2 source.

Can someone tell me if this is normal or if I need to do something? I've read a couple threads so far on here with people talking about nuisance snails?

Thanks!

GeToChKn · 11-12-2012, 11:09 PM

Could have been MTS snails in the dirt they gave you or eggs that eventually hatched. I have taken a bag of gravel from a tank, rinsed with hot hot hot water, dried, put in a bag, let sit for 6 months, gave it to a roommate, he put it in his tank and snails came out with 10 minutes. They can live dormant for a while, even without water.

neonstingray · 11-12-2012, 11:14 PM

Thanks GeToChKn. Do I need to do anything at this point? Like will they multiply until starving or crashing the tank? I'm especially worried about some of them dying and harming the betta.

**MABJ** · 11-12-2012, 11:19 PM

Feed normally. The MTS are a good thing

I like them. I've witnessed them eat anything that would decay. So yeah they can be very helpful.

Don't do anything special and the strong will grow old and reproduce. The weak young will die due to insufficient feeding, keeping your population low but existent.

MABJ's iDevice used for this message :p

neonstingray · 11-12-2012, 11:48 PM

Ok, thanks again guys.

11-12-2012, 10:50 PM	#1
neonstingray Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 3	Bunch of little snails in 2gallon tank? Hey guys, I'm sorry if this is a noob question, and I did try a quick search but it's tough when I'm not sure what I'm dealing with.... So I'm not a planted tank guy. I'm a reef guy. Normally we buy snails for reef tanks. Snails are good. My gf wanted a betta, and I setup a little 2 gallon rimless tank for him with a deep blue nano-filter and fluval CF light. Our local fish store (legit reef and planted tank store) was moving their location, and when breaking down their planted display tank they gave us some bags of substrate dirt and some ground cover plants and some taller plants. We also bought 2 snails so the betta wouldn't be the only living thing in the tank. After a couple months the two larger snails died, but I started seeing little snails popping up all over. Their shell shape is different - more of a long conical shape, vs the old snails being rounder. They seem to be multiplying and at any time I can easily count over a dozen without looking around. The substrate is about 1.5-2" deep, and the plants are growing well, and the fish is very healthy. Almost every day I put a dab of Flourish Excel in since I don't have a CO2 source. Can someone tell me if this is normal or if I need to do something? I've read a couple threads so far on here with people talking about nuisance snails? Thanks!

11-12-2012, 11:09 PM	#2
GeToChKn Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,112	Could have been MTS snails in the dirt they gave you or eggs that eventually hatched. I have taken a bag of gravel from a tank, rinsed with hot hot hot water, dried, put in a bag, let sit for 6 months, gave it to a roommate, he put it in his tank and snails came out with 10 minutes. They can live dormant for a while, even without water. __________________ 20g platy, , 2 x 10g shrimp, 3 x 20g shrimp, 7.5g shrimp and 1 great dane/mastiff puppy. Sump Pimp #2 My Tanks and my shrimps

11-12-2012, 11:19 PM	#4
MABJ Invert Warrior (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: NY Posts: 3,141	Feed normally. The MTS are a good thing I like them. I've witnessed them eat anything that would decay. So yeah they can be very helpful. Don't do anything special and the strong will grow old and reproduce. The weak young will die due to insufficient feeding, keeping your population low but existent. MABJ's iDevice used for this message :p __________________ Check out my tanks: Mark's Almost ADA \|18" Long DBP Tank \|10" Tall CRS Spec \| .5 Gallon cube \| Wabi-Kusa Thread \| New to shrimp? Need help? Check out these threads: \|Essential tools to buy\|List of inverts\|Sage advice\| Mark A Belcher Junior, A proud member: DBP Club

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11-12-2012, 11:14 PM	#3
neonstingray Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 3	Thanks GeToChKn. Do I need to do anything at this point? Like will they multiply until starving or crashing the tank? I'm especially worried about some of them dying and harming the betta.

11-12-2012, 11:48 PM	#5
neonstingray Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 3	Ok, thanks again guys.